Fastest goals scored in the history of all major tournaments

In football, managers and fans are not really known to see eye to eye when it comes to dictating how a game should shape up. But one aspect of the game both would agree on is ‘there’s nothing better than an early goal,’ unless they are on the receiving end of one, of course.Seeing your team take the lead just minutes or seconds into the match provides an unparalleled sense of satisfaction, knowing you have managed to get one over the opposition before they even realized what hit them.Sevilla winger Vitolo on Thursday set a new record for the fastest Europa League goal when he put one past Villarreal after only 13.21 seconds from the kick-off.With due condolences to the Villareal fans, Sportskeeda takes time to list the fastest goals ever scored in the most popular football leagues or tournaments around the world.

#8 Fastest goal in the European Championship

Scorer: Dmitri Kirichenko

Time: 67 seconds

The 2004 European Championship will always be regarded as the tournament of the underdogs due to the unlikeliest champions in Greece. However, Greece lost one game in the tournament at the hands of Russia.

In the final Group A game, Russia’s Dmitri Kirichenko opened up Greece’s tight defence to score the opener after 67 seconds. The PFC CSKA Moskva striker shot out of the blocks and steered a right-foot shot past goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis.

Greece lost the match 2-1 but narrowly progressed to the quarter-finals owing to their superior goal difference to Spain. The rest is history.

#7 Fastest goal in the World Cup

Scorer: Hakan Sukur

Time: 10.8 seconds

The 2002 World Cup will largely be remembered for the heights scaled by co-hosts South Korea. The Korean team reached the semi-finals of the tournament to lose out narrowly to Germany.

Korea finished fourth after losing 2-3 to Turkey and possibly responsible for the defeat was them conceding in just 10.8 seconds from kick-off. Turkey’s captain and talisman Hakan ükür pressed from the first whistle and reaped the rewards of Hong Myung-bo’s error.

#6 Fastest goal in the UEFA Europa League

Scorer: Vitolo

Time: 13.21 seconds

With only 13.21 seconds gone, Sevilla midfielder Vitolo put his name in the history books after putting his team in the lead against Villareal in a round-of-16 matchup.

The ball was hoofed upfield straight from kickoff and Kevin Gameiro controlled it beautifully before placing it at the Vitolo’s mercy who obliged with a finish.

He beat AEK Athens striker Ismael Blanco’s record. The Argentine had held the record since the inaugural UEFA Europa League in 2009.

#5 Fastest goal in the UEFA Champions League

Scorer: Roy MakAay

Time: 10.12 seconds

Bayern Munich’s Roy Makaay can certainly choose his stage. The Dutch striker scored in the 2007 Champions League round-of-16 tie against Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena.

Madrid started off passing towards their own goal, but a lapse in concentration by Roberto Carlos allowed Bayern's Hasan Salihamidi to steal the ball, run at the Madrid defence and pick Makaay out inside the box.

The star-studded Galacticos were shocked when Makaay put the ball in the net with just 10.12 seconds gone.

#4 Fastest goal in Serie A

Scorer: Arturo Vidal

Time: 18 seconds

Since 2005, the record of the fastest goal in the Serie A goal belonged to none other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic who scored his goal against Udinese after just 39 seconds.

In the 2012/13 season, Juventus’ Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal scored against Inter Milan after just 18 seconds to claim the record for himself. Juventus lost the match 3-1 after Inter staged a dramatic comeback to end the Turin side’s 49 match unbeaten run.

There were doubts over the validity of the goal as Kwadwo Asamoah, who provided the cross for Vidal’s goal, was clearly offside. But the goal stood and so does the record.

#3 Fastest goal in the Bundesliga

Scorer(s): Karim Bellarabi and Kevin Volland

Time: 9 seconds

Bayer Leverkusen winger Karim Bellarabi and Hoffenheim's Kevin Volland hold the joint-record for the quickest goal scored in the German top division. In August 2014, Bellerabi stunned Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund with a goal just after 9 seconds of the match and similarly in August 2015, Volland began their game against Champions, Bayern Munich, with a bang!

Bellarabi finished off a swift passing move to stun the famous Signal Iduna Park moments after the kickoff while Volland pounced on a loose pass by Austrian, David Alaba. Bellarabi and Volland have broken the record of the previously held joint record by Giovane Elber and Ulf Kirsten, both taking 11 seconds to score.

Watch Volland's goal: (first one amongst the three)

Watch Bellerabi's goal:

#2 Fastest goal in La Liga

Scorer: Seydou Keita

Time: 7.45 seconds

Former Barcelona man Seydou Keita, who plays for Valencia now, decided to put his goalscoring boots on in a La Liga match versus Almeira on 27th March 2014.

Before the match, Keita said in a pre-match press conference that all he wanted to do before the season ended was to score his first goal for the club.

The Malian had already predicted his future. Almeira kicked the ball back from kickoff and Keita jumped on the error to come up with a striker’s finish after just 7.45 seconds to beat Joseba Llorente’s previous record of 7.88 seconds.

#1 Fastest goal in the English Premier League

Scorer: Ledley King

Time: 9.7 seconds

King might have established himself as one of the most dominating centre backs to put on a Tottenham jersey, but the recently retired Spurs legend actually started his career as a midfielder.

In 2000, a 20-year-old started in the midfield for the London side against Bradford in a Premier League match.

With 9.7 seconds gone, King found himself with the ball 25 yards from the Bradford goal. He unleashed a cracking curler which took a wicked deflection to wrong-foot opposition keeper Matt Clarke.